Childbirth Classes

ReadyForaB · January 2016

Are any FTM taking childbirth classes? If not, why? Did any STM here not take them the first time around? Do you wish you had? My DH really doesn't want to take the classes with me so I was thinking of compromising and getting video classes that we can do at home instead. Did anyone take this route? Does anyone have good recommendations for video classes?

Duffgurl · January 2016

I would suggest taking them. Even if this is your 2nd, 3rd and so on. It's good to refresh your memory.

Tnallen107 · January 2016

I am planning on taking them. But I am not sure when is best. I would guess closer to the due date so it is all fresh on my mind. I don't know about you ladies, but I feel like my memory has taken a beating this trimester!

jle1021 · January 2016

I did not take them with my first and am not taking them this time either. But I did a lot of research at home. I do think that some people benefit greatly from them just depends on the person.

runsoncoffee · January 2016

I plan to do the one the hospital offers. I am also interested in the Bradley method class, but hubby isn't crazy about spending $300 on a class... Has anyone taken this and found it helpful or can offer an alternative to the class??

Sekerambo · January 2016

@court5608 - my husband and I took Bradley classes and found it well worth the cost. They definitely prepared us to make every decision that we were faced with through labor and after. It also prepared me to fight for the birth I wanted. They also go over tools that can be used through labor which were incredibly helpful. The bradley workbook was good but I definitely took the other book with a grain of salt. My Bradley coach told us we can sit in on classes during future pregnancies so I'm definitely hoping to catch a few classes again.

DressageDarling · January 2016

We are taking classes and my husband is signed up for a "dad boot camp" that is offered. It's only dads and taught by dads, so he is pretty excited for that one. I'm a FTM, so I'm willing to take whatever classes are available.

squishy0511 · January 2016

I really want to take a Hypnobirth class but they run about 300 dollars. I found the book at a thrift store so I'll probably start by reading that but I'd love a class!

ZedPM3 · January 2016

We're going to take a class through the hospital. Part of the class includes a tour of the maternity ward, which I think will be very helpful.

telicious2 · January 2016

I'm a STM and I didn't take any classes for my first bc I didn't want to pay the money. So I got "Laugh and Learn about Childbirth". The lady tries to be funny with her cheesy jokes but I felt I learned everything that I needed and I don't regret not taking a class. I will re-watch the video again.

haboobjob · January 2016

I took 2 classes through the hospital. One super in depth class about the birthing process and then one about what to do when the baby is home (breastfeeding, bathing, things to look for). They were both super helpful to me as a FTM... That and YouTube. I was super stressed out doing the sponge bath for the first time.

texasmama2014 · January 2016

I wanted to go to the one offered by our hospital, but they didn't offer it the month before I was due and the next class was after my due date. I guess that's what I got for waiting until the last minute. I might go for it this time just to see what they say.

greendogs1993 · January 2016

Each visit with our midwife is partly a parenting class, especially later in the pregnancy. Each visit is 1 hour of the checkup and learning all together. We would have invested the money in classes if we didn't get them from our midwife. Also, I planned and successfully exclusively breastfed my son until 14 months old. To help with that I sat in on a free breastfeeding group with lactation consultants and went to the meetings weekly in the first 3 months to answer questions and hear what other women deal with. I would suggest something like that if you choose to breastfeed, reading doesn't cut it.

Stephanie7693 · January 2016

This is my third, and I have not taken a class for any of my kids. I'm sure it's beneficial, but not necessary. There are books, internet, and YouTube. They all can be helpful. But you might want to meet with a lactation consultant if you plan to bf. One should visit you in the hospital and offer help, and you can also schedule home visits. I found those to be much more important and useful.

HuntingLillies · January 2016

I took one with my first. I had never changed a diaper before, so I knew NOTHING about babies. Classes were free at the hospital I gave birth at. It was worth it for the tour of the maternity ward. It was nice to know exactly where to go ahead of time instead of trying to figure it out in the anxiety filled moments before delivery.

the_other_mother · January 2016

FTM and I'm taking the ones offered at the hospital. They have one especially for natural birth that is required if you want to use the birthing center. They also give you a tour of the birthing center and L&D. They also offer one for BF, which I'm sure I'll take as well.

tinkerbell11210 · January 2016

For our first we took a birth class marathon. It was a good class that gave us information on what to expect at the birth and what tools may be needed/used during the birth. They also passed around a 3-D model of what your cervix looks like as it dialates. Needless to say the girl behind me started bawling when it came to her. Of course my husband whispers in my ear "its a little to late to back out now."
He also took a daddy boot camp class but he thought that it was kind of pointless. We both went to a breast feeding class as well. They suggested to bring your husband because then they will understand how to support you. It worked for us. I only took the one class and BF for 8 months. I had to stop because I just didn't have enough time at work to pump twice. I highly recommend the hospital tour. Just make note about where to go. We both forgot on the day I went into labor so that was fun.

1faceinacrowd · January 2016

I took one and it was sooo helpful! Learning about techniques to get through the pain, learning about the various medications they can administer during labor, getting help with your birth plan...Oh yes! It was super helpful.

Ceventa · January 2016

We took the one offered by the hospital. I found it really helpful, mainly because she went step by step on what the procedures are once you come in for delivery. Then she explained all the lingo and what the nurses and docs are looking for, plus she she explained stages of labor and positions to help make you comfortable. If anything, at least I knew what to expect from them and what they were talking about.

Bookhousegirl · January 2016

I took the hospital class which was helpful but I wish I took a more in depth class on techniques for getting through labor. The hospital class touched on this but it was more educational on the process and also a tour of the facility. I'm considering doing another class this time so I'm more prepared to manage the pain (even if I get an epidural there's a while before that and mine wore off during pushing and I was a wreck).

jmknox · January 2016

I second the Bradley Method!

jamiesc58 · January 2016

I have taken different kinds of classes during all of my other three pregnancies. This time dh and myself are only taking a CPR/First Aid class and dd is taking a babysitting class.

smilormarie · January 2016

" Did any STM here not take them the first time around? "
I was scheduled for a birthing class at the birth center - natural birth for the planned hospital delivery. We had switched from the birth center to a midwife at the hospital so that was our compromise. By 35 weeks it looked unlikely I would be delivering vaginally at all, let alone natural. I cancelled the nightly classes so we could use those remaining weeks to prepare for the early arrival. I was still so scared the placenta would ultimately move and I'd end up in labor and not know what to expect or how to advocate for what I wanted in my natural hospital birthing plan or how to manage pain without meds. The midwife at the birth center reassured me that if by some miracle it moved, they would do a private lesson just for us and wouldnt let us get to the point of delivery before having a class. But I still regret not getting that FTM experience of going to a birthing class.

My hospital offered these classes which we signed up for:
Newborn care (not worth it)
Breastfeeding (waste of time because they went on for an hour about how good breastfeeding is for the baby - duh)
CPR and first aid - highly recommended and I will be taking it again this time
Happiest baby on the block - we took it when our son was 1 month old and super fussy. Take it as soon as possible after delivery.
Car seat check class - we paid for personal attention for each of our cars with our car seat installation by a certified CPST. Highly recommended.

You can't get the knowledge you need from videos for car seats and first aid. If you want to get videos for happy baby, newborn care, and breastfeeding, go for it. But breastfeeding needs hands on care so find a good lactation consultant as soon as the baby is born.
And fathers were in ALL of these classes unless it was a single mom, then grandma or a best friend was attending the class with the mom-to-be. Good luck!

MamaKSquared · January 2016

We're giving birth at a birthing center and they require a natural birthing class. We'll at least be taking that one and I'm really looking forward to it. I think we will take a breastfeeding class as well. After our initial class, we'll see if we want to take any others. I am interested in a Bradley or Hypnobirthing class, but I'm not sold on it yet.

GRJC · January 2016

We took a couple the first time around. I can't say we learned a ton of things that we couldn't have figured out on our own but it was nice to be with other preggers and do it all together. The thing I loved the most was the tour of the hospital. I would definitely recommend.

With #2 I will not be taking any classes. It'll all come back just like riding a bike. Right? lol

thelyontamer · January 2016

Stm here now... We didn't go to class with my daughter and we won't work this one either. I figured most of it is pretty self explanatory. And you're really not gonna know exactly what to expect until the day of. You obviously have nurses midwives and doctors there too if you have questions during labor. To each their own though!

wlux · January 2016

I didn't do any classes with DD and won't do classes this time around either.

While I think information can be helpful I tend to worry about how things "should" go if I was told so in a class.

StarLiteKiss · January 2016

I have never taken a class but I have heard they are beneficial. If you want to take some classes do it. If you are planning to try labor without the epidural or unsure then there are some excellent classes that are excellent I have heard (from friends). If your hospital gives tours definitely check it out.

Stephanie7693 · January 2016

Fyi, where I live you can take your car and carseat to the police station, and they will help you install it correctly, and show you what you should know. They do not charge from it either. With my first, a nurse actually checked to make sure the car seat was in correctly before we left with her, but she was a nicu baby. They did not do that son if I remember correctly. I was insanely sleep deprived when I left the hospital, so I don't remember much of my last day there lol

Bubblegum5586 · January 2016

We signed up for our Bradley method class last night. I am very excited! My mom told me to look into Bradley because she used it with my sister 22 years ago (VBAC 36 hour labor, with back labor and no epi). After looking into it I was really impressed! After I told my mom she was so excited she offered to pay for the class! Yay!

I know a few people that went into it just trusting their Dr and unfortunately they got a different on call Dr. They felt rushed and pressured to take auction vs let it progress naturally. I just want to be informed and be able to advocate for myself no matter who the Dr is.

ginger819 · January 2016

We took a class with DD. It was a general one offered by the hospital that went over labor, recovery, newborns, and breadtfeeding. I think it was more helpful for DH. I had already looked up a lot of the information but I did learn some new stuff. The thing we took the most from the class was relaxation techniques for labor, but mostly it just let us practice what I would probably want for support from DH (for instance I know when I'm in pain or don't feel good I don't particularly like my back rubbed so we were able to sort out what I thought would work best and DH was awesome during labor because he already had an idea of what I wanted). We also enjoyed seeing L&D before we went in and knowing their process of being induced since we went past our due date and had to be induced.

I went in with a fairly open, go with the flow, birth plan though, so if you want an exact plan some of the birthing classes would probably be good.

We won't be taking another class, but we took the class about a year ago and we're with the same doctor and hospital and had a good experience last time.

jmknox · January 2016

@Bubblegum5586 you are going to love your Bradley class

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